Chapter 278: and translation of chapter title

Hu Meiniang sneered, "Valley Immortal, if you want to know the situation of this farming household, you actually don't need to ask me; you should ask your junior martial brother instead, for he knows far more than I do!"

Gu Huiyan said nothing, merely tightening her grip on the Flying Sword.

Hu Jianbo angrily said, "Little sis, don't make trouble; hurry up and say everything you know, or do you really want to die under Valley Immortal's sword?"

Hu Meiniang smiled; at this moment, how could she not know? Her elder brother was just scaring her, and Gu Huiyan might really intend to kill her.

Who let her just now almost swallow her junior martial brother in one gulp!

However.

Her elder brother would not stand by and watch someone die without helping; from the way he furtively gathered a stream of pure demonic qi in his left palm behind his back just now, it could be seen.

At the critical moment, her elder brother would take action.

Hu Meiniang's eyes shifted, and she said, "Since Valley Immortal wants to know so badly, I won't hide it from you; if my guess is correct, this child of the Wang Family is very likely to possess an exceptional spiritual root or some kind of sacred physique!"

"Just a guess?"

Gu Huiyan's brows furrowed slightly as she said, "You dare to break into a civilian home based merely on a guess?"

"I admit it's a guess, but my speculation has a hundred percent chance of being true!"

Having said that, Hu Meiniang paused, glanced playfully at Xuanqing Daozhang standing beside Gu Huiyan, her fox eyes full of smugness, and said:

"Back then, I merely wanted to enter this household and check on that child's situation, but your junior martial brother was willing to sacrifice his life to stop me; do you think that child hides some great secret?"

Xuanqing Daozhang retorted stubbornly, "Who knows whether what you say is true or false? You claim you just want to look at Ping'an, but who knows if you actually want to eat infants?"

Hu Meiniang ignored Xuanqing Daozhang's stubbornness and continued, "Valley Immortal, if you don't believe me, you can ask your junior martial brother what's going on!"

As for Xuanqing Daozhang's situation, she had learned the details from Dai Zhishang: he had once been a disciple of Ziyang Palace, but for unknown reasons, after leaving Ziyang Palace he came to this poor mountain valley and built a Daoist temple.

Gu Huiyan was also a disciple of Ziyang Palace, and now even an elder of Ziyang Palace, yet she never imagined that Xuanqing Daozhang and she were actually senior–junior martial siblings.

Don't think that just because everyone was once a disciple of Ziyang Palace and trained together, the senior/junior titles mean anything more than lip service.

Unless there is deep affection or they both apprenticed under the same elder, it's hard to expect others to speak up for you.

Even if they often address each other as "senior brother" within Ziyang Palace, it's still difficult!

Gu Huiyan turned her head to glance at her own junior martial brother, saw his complex expression, said nothing more, waved her hand, and said, "Alright, I've asked what I needed to ask, you've said what you had to say; although I don't know if it's true or false, I think you lack the gall to deceive me—you may go!"

Hu Meiniang instantly felt utterly disappointed; originally she had revealed this matter hoping that Valley Immortal would, in front of everyone, press Xuanqing Daozhang for answers, making him disclose what he knew.

I hadn't expected…

Gu Huiyan isn't stupid!

Hu Meiniang smiled narrowly and said, "Old Daoist, I've heard that child has taken you as his master; if he truly possesses some exceptional spiritual root or sacred physique, teaching him your arts merely delays his growth, and might even affect him."

It would be better to give that child to me; I'll recommend him to a good family, and coincidentally I've heard that some ancient monsters nearing the end of their lifespans, fearing their lineage will be cut off, are preparing to find an inheritor!

Gu Huiyan's face darkened, her tone unfriendly as she said, "Then hurry up and leave!"

"Valley Immortal, don't take it out on my little sister; she's just like this. I'll take her back now and won't disturb your senior–junior reunion!"

Hu Jianbo snapped out of his astonishment; no wonder his little sister would rather die than speak in front of him, and no wonder she would rather break a principle she's upheld for years.

It turns out it's because that child of the Wang Family is very likely to possess some exceptional spiritual root or sacred physique.

He also understood why his little sister could see through his disguise and still blurt out the secret buried in her heart: she wanted to seize this opportunity.

See if he could obtain the information she wanted from the mouth of that Valley Immortal's junior martial brother.

Although. That junior martial brother of the Valley Immortal didn't speak, yet both Hu Meiniang and he got the information they wanted.

"Wait a moment!"

Xuanqing Daozhang watched Hu Jianbo holding Hu Meiniang's diminished fox form as he rose to leave, and hastily called out.

Hu Jianbo halted his steps, glanced at Xuanqing Daozhang with a narrow smile, and said enthusiastically, "Esteemed Daoist, you called me—what's the matter?"

"Madam Hu, do you know who is the mastermind behind the Wang Family's deployment of the Small Five Elements Sword Formation?"

Xuanqing Daozhang urged eagerly.

Hu Jianbo's pupils contracted sharply.

As for the Small Five Elements Sword Formation, how could he not know? Yesterday that Daoist Li had just purchased from the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan's merchant guild the method to lay out the formation, as well as the materials needed to craft the formation diagram and foundation.

Logically speaking.

Only a day has passed; that Daoist Li Fu Gui hasn't even finished setting up the Small Five Elements Sword Formation—he might just be starting to refine the diagram or foundation, and even if he has begun refining, success is not guaranteed.

This novel you have reached

Yet I never expected to hear such words from Xuanqing Daozhang's mouth.

Hu Meiniang said arrogantly, "Want to know? Just tell me the child's specific situation, and I'll tell you who is behind the Wang Family's deployment of the Small Five Elements Sword Formation!"

Xuanqing Daozhang opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back, and he changed his tone, "Madam Hu, you may go!"

"Old Daoist, you really don't want to know?"

Hu Meiniang smiled narrowly and said, "Someone capable of laying the Small Five Elements Sword Formation within your Spirit-Turtle Array is undoubtedly a top-notch expert; besides, the enemy lurks in the dark while you stand in the light—you shouldn't fear that he might harbor other designs on that child, and if you knew the details you might even be able to make preparations early!"

Xuanqing Daozhang said expressionlessly, "Don't bother, Madam Hu, worrying yourself; Ping'an is just an ordinary child, and I believe that mastermind won't do anything to Ping'an!"

Hu Meiniang smiled and said nothing more.

Outside Hutou Gou.

Hu Meiniang lay in Hu Jianbo's embrace and said, "Big brother, don't you have anything you want to ask me?"

"This isn't the place to talk; wait until we reach the Nine-headed Mountain clan's territory before we speak!"

Hu Jianbo's face grew solemn.

Xuanqing Daozhang looked at Gu Huiyan, who remained silent, gave an embarrassed smile, and said, "Senior sister, don't you have anything you want to ask me?"

"What do you want to ask me?"

Gu Huiyan countered.

"Ask about that child……"

Before Xuanqing Daozhang could finish his words, Gu Huiyan interrupted, "If I were to ask, would you answer?"

I will!

Xuanqing Daozhang nodded, heavily exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi, was about to speak, seemed to have thought of something, changed his words and said: "Please senior sister, first shield the surroundings!"

(End of chapter)